The space at 1832 14th Street NW (proposed Local 14) has been vacant for some time, with the liquor license app first appearing in the window in 2009. Interestingly, the agenda item is for a “renewal” of the license. Borderstan was unable to get more information on the application.

Across the street, the application by Black & Orange is another ANC — 1B — but ANCs will occasionally comment on issues in adjoining ANCs. Notably, the license applications come under ANC 2B09, which is represented by Ramon Estrada.

For most states, November 2 will be one of the most contentious election days in recent memory. Here in DC, though, Election Day tends to be viewed as just another day, with few races that are contested. DC certainly is a one-party city, with registered Democrats constituting about 74% of all voters, and the primaries are the election where winners are usually decided.

But, here’s why you should pay attention, vote and buck the D.C. Election Day malaise: the elected offices that determine the future of your neighborhood are in play. Advisory Neighborhood Commission seats are critically important to the development of businesses, residential areas and cultural spots near your homes. (Check out Lydia DePillis’ post today over at the City Paper’s Housing Complex Blog: Building a Better ANC.)

Ramon Estrada is running for a fifth term term in ANC 2B09. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Michelle Lancaster

Borderstan is covering four contested Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) races in the three local ANCs: ANC 1B02, 1B04, 2B09 and 2F06. The general election is Nov. 2. Today’s interview is with Ramon Estrada, the four-term incumbent in ANC 2B09. He is being challenged by Sunit Talapatra (see interview).

After serving almost eight years as an ANC commissioner, Estrada is a known figure in the area for his efforts related to nightlife venues and establishments with liquor licenses. He has been elected four times (terms are two years) by voters in his district; in 2008 Doug Rogers ran against Estrada and got 40% of the vote. This is the only district in 2B that borders on 14th Street, and it straddles the Dupont-U Street-Logan Circle neighborhoods.

In April he was one of two ANC commissioners who asked the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) to enforce the limitations on bars and restaurants in the Arts Overlay District along the 14th and U Street corridor. Several residents along with Peter Raia, ANC 1B-02 and Estrada asked the commission to enforce the 25% limit on storefront frontage for bars and restaurants; this limitation has since been raised to 50%.

ANC 2B09 is the northeastern panhandle district of ANC 2B, running from New Hampshire Ave. NW eastward to 14th St. along U St. with the southern boundary being S St. for most of the way (see map below the fold). You can learn more about the district at DC Citizen Atlas. ANC 2B covers most of the Dupont Circle neighborhood and has nine commissioners.

ANC commissioners are elected from Single Member Districts (SMDs) in the city’s 37 ANCs. While the number of commissioners in each ANC varies, each SMD has approximately 2,000 residents. (See links to related posts at bottom.)

Borderstan is covering four contested Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) races in the three local ANCs: ANC 1B02, 1B04, 2B09 and 2F06. The general election is Nov. 2.

Today’s interview is with Sunit Talapatra who is taking on four-term incumbent Ramon Estrada in ANC 2B09. Borderstan will run Estrada’s interview on Monday, Oct. 25.

ANC 2B09 is the northeastern panhandle district of ANC 2B, running from New Hampshire Ave. NW eastward to 14th St. along U St. with the southern boundary being S St. for most of the way (see map below the fold). It is the only district in 2B that borders on 14th Street. You can learn more about the district at DC Citizen Atlas. ANC 2B covers most of the Dupont Circle neighborhood and has nine commissioners.

ANC commissioners are elected from Single Member Districts (SMDs) in the city’s 37 ANCs. While the number of commissioners in each ANC varies, each SMD has approximately 2,000 residents. (See links to related posts at bottom.)

It appears that the DC Zoning Commission will soon give its okay for more bars and restaurants on the 14th and U Street NW corridors that are within the Uptown Arts Overlay District. The Housing Complex blog at the Washington City Paper reports that the Thursday hearing on the matter was a “smooth ride” for the proposal to raise the amount of building frontage in the area to 50% from 25% for bars and restaurants.

A temporary increase has been in place and the Zoning Comission is expected to vote on June 28 to make the 50% number permanent.

The irony, as reported by the Housing Complex, is that no one showed up to oppose the increase to 50%. The matter came to light in April when several residents and ANC commissioners (from two different ANCs) brought the 25% limit to the attention of the DC Zoning Commission and demanded that it start enforcing the limit. One of the lead proponents of keeping the 25% cap in place was Ramon Estrada, ANC 2B09 commissioner; he did not show up for Thursday’s hearing.

Some opponents of the 50% rule raise the specter of another Adams Morgan-18th Street-style strip of bars and clubs that change the character of that neighborhood on weekends.

After the group asked the Zoning Commission to enforce the 25% limit in the area, there was a tremendous amount of attention on the issue. The MidCity Business Association, ANC 2F-Logan and Councilmembers Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) and Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) all urged the Commission to raise the limit to 50% for bars and restaurants along the two streets. On Wednesday night, ANC 2B-Dupont voted unanimously to recommend that the Commission approve the increase (a small panhandle of territory that is part of ANC 2B and represented by Estrada borders on 14th Street NW).

The two major issues around how many restaurants and bars to allow along the 14th and U corridors are (1) how to encourage mixed-use retail in the area, and (2) the reality that rents and property prices have become so expensive that the primary types of businesses able to open in the area at present are bars and restaurants, and furniture-home decor stores. (Room & Board will open a huge store Monday, June 14, at 14th and T NW.)

As noted in the Housing Complex blog story yesterday, the specter of another version of Adams Morgan’s 18th Street strip was raised–and not in a positive way.

About the Arts Overlay District

From the DC Zoning Commission website: “The Uptown Arts-Mixed Use (ARTS) Overlay District is applied to the commercial and Mixed Use Districts in the 14th and U Streets, N.W. area. The purposes of the ARTS Overlay District are to: Encourage a scale of development, a mixture of building uses, and other attributes such as safe and efficient conditions for pedestrian and vehicular movement. The overlay encourages uses that encourage pedestrian activity, especially retail, entertainment, and residential uses and provides for an increased presence and integration of the arts and related cultural and arts-related support uses. Commission Order Nos. 632, 632-A, 632-B and 632-C, for more details.”

This story, as reported by 14th & You, is actually about more than just these three establishments on 14th Street NW. It is about our local Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, city government, regulation of local businesses, liquor licenses, voluntary agreements and privacy issues–and how our city treats small business owners in general.

The story raises questions about all these issues, and they warrant discussion in our neighborhood and our city. It is a discussion that is long past due. Borderstan.com welcomes comments (even some guest postings) from ANC commissioners (including Mr. Estrada), community groups, city officials and residents of the Dupont–Logan area.

The Washington Business Journal reports today that Room & Board, a small retail furniture chain, has finally reached a deal to occupy the corner space at 14th & T Streets NW. There is more information about it here. Also… Borderstanians remember some earlier deals that didn’t go through.

Now for the local wonks who read this blog. This piece of property is in the Dupont Circle ANC: ANC 2B/Dupont Circle and the commissioner for the district, Ramon Estrada (ANC 2B-09). But, you ask: When did Dupont Circle extend to 14th Street NW? It does not, but the ANC does.

This is why does ANC 2B–and not ANC 2F/Logan Circle–represents this stretch of 14th Street; there is a panhandle that stretches east to 14th and runs from the south side of U Street down to the north side of S Street NW. This panhandle is in single-member district 09 in ANC 2B. Otherwise, the eastern boundary of ANC 2B is 15th Street NW, with a small exception in the very southern part of the ANC. See map.

Good morning, Borderstanians. The almost-two-year presidential campaign is almost at an end. Vote tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4–and remember to vote in those down-ballot races for D.C. slots. Don’t just vote for president and run out of the polling place. DC polling place hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

ANC Races. If you live in ANC 2B-09 (outside Borderstan to the north), your ANC seat is being contested between incumbent Ramon Estrada and challenger Doug Rogers. The Borderstan posting on the race is here: “ANC Races: 2B-09 Hotly Contested.”

Good morning, Borderstanians. Just four days to go until election day next Tuesday. D.C. city council races–particularly those two at-large seats–are getting plenty of coverage in the media and blogosphere. The presidential race is bringing us muchos television ads, thanks to Virginia’s status as a battleground state between McCain and Obama.

But, what about local races for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC)? (If you are unsure what ANCs do, click here.) Borderstan is split between three ANC districts, two in ANC 2B/Dupont Circle and one in ANC 2F/Logan Circle. None of the three incumbent commissioners representing Borderstan face opposition for the next two-year term. (Information at bottom of this posting on how to determine your ANC district and commissioner.)

Contested Race in ANC 2B-09

There is one neighboring ANC 2B district that is garnering a great deal of coverage–the ANC 2B-09 seat where incumbent Ramon Estrada is being challenged by Doug Rogers. Here are links to the two candidates’ Web sites and to some coverage of the race:

It appears that plans for turning the large building at the southwest corner of 14th and T NW–including a 24-hour diner, theater, yoga center and comedy club –may be dead. Seems a large furntiture retailer has come along and made an offer to the owner. Two accounts of the matter, at Greater Greater Washington and Washington City Paper.

We learned today that Dave Chappelle, yes the Dave Chappelle, has signed on as a potential investor with the Diner/Tryst/ comedy club planned for the old Church of the Reformer at 14th and T Streets NW, the development plan we wrote about in July.

The bad news? That plan is close to imploding. Sources close to the deal say that the earlier agreement to lease the space from the current owner fell through. Rather than let their dream die, Diner/Tryst/Open City owner Constantine Stavropoulos and DC-Improv and Riot Act comedy impresario John Xereas, along with a few others–including Chappelle, a Xereas acquaintance who has D.C. roots–worked to get a deal together to buy the building. The bid is in the neighborhood of $9 million. The problem? They’re not the only ones interested.